Roscius

, Quintius, a Roman actor, was born at Lanuvium, and became so celebrated on the stage that every
actor of superior eminence to his contemporaries has been
since called a Roscius. It is said that he was not without
some personal defects; particularly his eyes were so distorted that he always appeared on the stage with a mask;
but the Romans frequently obliged him to take it off, and
overlooked the deformities of his face, that they might the
better hear his elegant pronunciation. In private life he
was so much esteemed as to be raised to the rank of senator. When falsely accused, Cicero, who had been one of
his pupils, undertook his defence, and cleared him of the
malevolent aspersions of his enemies, in an elegant oration
extant in his works. Roscius wrote a treatise, which,
however, has not descended to our times, comparing with
great success and learning, the profession of the orator
with that of the comedian. He died about 61 before
Christ. His daily pay for acting is said to have been 1000
denarii, or 32l. 6s. of our money, though Cicero makes his
yearly income amount to the enormous sum of 48,434l. 10s.

Dr. Burney observes, that there are several passages in
Cicero concerning Roscius, which, if the ancient actors,
Romans as well as Greeks, did not declaim in musical
notes, would be wholly unintelligible. He tells us (de Orat), that Roscius had always said, when age should diminish his force, he would not abandon the stage, but
would proportion his performance to his powers, and make
music conform to the weakness of his voice; which really
happened: for the same author informs us (de Leg.), that
in his old age he sung in a lower pitch of voice, and made
the tibicines play slower. As there were combats, or contests, established by the ancients for the voice, as well as
for other parts of the Gymnastice those who taught the
management of the voice were called φονασχοι, phonasci;
and under their instructions were put all those who were
destined to be orators, singers, and comedians. Roscius
had an academy for declamation, at which he taught several persons, preparatory to their speaking in public, or
going on the stage. These are proofs sufficient of the
dramatic declamation of the ancients being uttered in
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mumusical tones, agreeing with those of the musical instruments
by which they were accompanied. 1

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